This part of the Venetian Carnevale has its roots in 944, when 12 brides, and their dowries, were taken by Istrian pirates, in a raid on the church of San Pietro in Castello.

Now, 12 young women are chosen to play the part of these brides in a ceremony that today began in the Telecom Future Centre, then wound its way from San Pietro to Piazza San Marco. The pretty young Marie smiled through the cool, rainy weather.

To welcome us into the Telecom Centre, this hurdy-gurdy player provided cheery music.

Hello, Bridget. I stayed far away from Piazza San Marco, but the preliminaries in the Telecom Future Centre, and then the parade starting at the Chiesa San Pietro are far more accessible. It was such a pity about the bad weather.

“Some of the Marie will be carried by …” – I can’t see the rest of that sentence. I hang on your every word, Yvonne, so I don’t want to miss any. [I tried to work “miss (L) any” into that, but I had to give it up as a bad job.]

To commemorate the recovery of the brides from Castello the Serenissima used to pay the dowry of 12 poor young girls, two per sestiere, who were paraded during the Festa delle Marie. As it became too expensive to pay so many dowries, the real girls were replaced by wooden dolls which were also paraded through the city. It’s the believed that the term marionette may have evolved from them. It’s great that Venice brought back such a festivity even if it’s original significance is so alien to us today.
Great post Yvonne, as always.

I’m not sure how that works these days, Andrew. Before, they had celebrities of some description, but I think you might be right. It’s a case of being first might not be the best idea! It was so cold and wet for the poor lasses and their entourage.